Pitman connection for oil-well apparatus.



E/E. GREVE.

PITMAN CONNECTION FOR OIL WELL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 5, 191 5.

' 1,169,076, Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

FIGJ- 3' v WITNESSES INVENTOR EDGAR E. GREVE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO OIL WELL SUPPLY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PITMAN CONNECTION FOR OIL-WELL APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR E. GREVE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pitman Connections for Oil-Well Apparatus,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvementsin well apparatus, and more particularly to the means for connecting the pitman to its operating crank.

In practice, it is frequently necessary to connect and .disconnect the pitman and crank. Heretofore, to enable this connection and disconnection to be made, the practice has been to provide the pitman box with a suitable opening through which the wrist pin extends, place a holding member (known in the art as a cap) within the opening, and

.then place a key in position for retaining the cap in its proper position, a washer and cotter pin being employed at the exposed end of the wrist pin. With such construction, disconnection of the pitman and crank requires first the removal of the key, and

then the raising of the cap a distance sufficient to permit the pitman to be moved in the direction of length of the wrist pin to enable the wrist pin to pass out of the opening, after which the lower end of the pitman is dropped to the floor and moved out of the path of the wrist pin. Such arrangement and method of operation is objectionable. Obviously, a reversal of this operation is required Where the pitman is to be again connected to the wrist pin.

The present invention aims to provide this connection in a manner which will render the connection and disconnection simple and at the same time provide an efiicient mounting of the pitman on thewrist pm.

It also aims to provide a simple and efiicient means for taking up wear.

Other objects are, to provide a construction which will enable the use of a lubricant chamber readily accessible and which will provide the necessar lubricant; also, to provide a simple and e cient means which will permit the pitman to be swung to one side on the floor Without difliculty.

To these and other ends, the nature of v which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, my inven- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 5, 1915.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916. Serial No. 6,338.

apparatus showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the lower end of the pitman and showing the general arrangement of the connections between the pitman and the wrist pin; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is 1% detail view of one of the connecting memers.

As illustrated, indicates conventionally the walking beam ofthe rigging from which a pitman 11 is'suspended by means of the usual stirrup 12. In the drawing, I have .shown a metallic pitman, but it will be readily understood that the construction presently described is equally adapted for use in connection with the usual wooden pitman, the metallic construction being in the form of a tube or pipe,

13 designates a crank which is attached to the shaft of a band wheel 14, the crank being of the usual type and preferably having a plurality of openings to receive a Wrist 'pin 15.

16 designates a block or casing carried by and secured to the lower end of the pitman in a suitable manner, said block or casing having an opening 17 of non-circular (preferably angular) configuration. This opening is preferably flared from front to rear of the block and is adapted to receive a member 18, the latter having its periphery complemental to the general configuration of the opening 17. As shown in Fig. 5, the member 18 is preferably pyramidal, the base being approximately square with the height of the member approximating the depth of the opening 17.

The member 18 is provided with an opening 19, preferably flared outwardly from the base line, said opening being adapted to receive a frusto-conical member 20 carried by and preferably keyed to the wrist pin 15 by means of a key 21.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 3,

bers to permit the journal action. As will be obvious, the member may be moved inwardly by adjustment of the nuts 22 to take up wear of the parts and thus insure a proper operation of the journal. I

As shown more particularly in Fig. 4, provision is madefor lubricating the journal, the block 16 being provided with an oilreceptacle 23, having a. port 24 leading to the journal line.

As will be seen, the members 18 and 20, by reason of, their particular construction and support, practically form a part of the wrist pin itself, the two members being held against relative endwise. movement by the flange 15 and the nuts 22. Consequently,

the periphery of a portion of the wrist pin is changed from the usual circular construe tion to an angular or other non-circular form, with the surfaces thereofinclined in a direction to permit the block 16 to be readily placed in position on or withdrawn from the wrist pin by a lateral movement thereof, the pyramidal form 'of the member 18 preventing liability of sticking of parts, and

at the same time providing, with the complemental surfaces of the block 16, an arrangement by means of which the block may be readily positioned on the member 18..

To retain the pitman in position, I preferably provide member 18 with a recess forming ashoulder 18 which is adapted to be engaged by a catch 25ioperatively connected 7. .to a lever 26, the latter being preferably pivotally mounted as at 27, and being ex posed at the front of the pitman; The catch 25 may be of any desired configuration and arranged to automatically engage the shoulder 18. when the pitman is passed to its connecting position. This result may be obtained in any well known manner, a preferred arrangement being by the use of a spring 28, the catch being carried by the pitman. Obviously, the catch 25 maybe Weighted in the well known manner to provide the operation of the spring 28. As will be readily understood,.this arrangement of connection causes the catch to act as the element for retaining thepitman in position, the catch, when engaged, positively holding the pitman against withdrawal movement, while the particular peripheral configuration of the member 18 serves to provide a connection between the wrist pin and the pitman substantially free from play other than that provided between the members 18 and 20. In other words, while the general arrangement places the member 18 as a structural part of the wrist pin, this member, in nor- 7 mal operation, is practically a part of the pitman, thereby providing for normal operation of parts. When, however, it is desired to withdraw the pitman, it is only necessary to release the catch 25 from its engagement with shoulder 18*, whereupon the pitman is free to be swung outwardly to disengage member 18 from the block 16, the particular configuration of parts permitting this operation to be performed with ease, as here- 4 tofore explained. This disengagement of the catch is effected by drawing the lever 26 outwardly, which movement rocks the catch on its pivot and frees it from the shoulder 18. A hand grip 29 may be secured to the block 16 to enable the operator to more readily provide the disengaging op eration. When it is desired to again engage the pitman with the crank, it is only necessary to place the openingin the block in approximate alinement with the member 18, and then push the pitman to its seat, the particular configuration of parts acting to guide the pitman to its actual. seating position, the catch simply'riding over a face of member 18.

If desired, the block 16 may be provided with a roller 30 or other equivalent device by means of which'the pitman, when released and in contact with the floor, may be readily pushed about by the operator.

As will be clearly understood, the invention disclosed herein provides a simple and eflicient construction for meeting the various conditions arising in the manipulation of a this general type of apparatus, the constructionpermitting theoperator to provide the necessary manipulations without material expenditure of time and labor,"and without liability of loss or misplacement of parts such as may result from the general structures heretofore employed.

While I have shown the outer surface configuration of the member 18 as pyramidal, it should be understood that any other angular or non-circular configuration may be employed for the purpose, the main feature being to provide a complemental configurationbetween the-member 18 and the block 16 such as will tend to prevent relative movement therebetween during the normal operation of the parts.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a pitman having an opening, and acrank, of means for adjustably connecting, the crank and pitman,

said means comprising an assembled wrist p n Structure adapted to be bodilyentered in the pitman opening, said structure including the operating journal and its bearing and having a non-circular peripheral configuration substantially complemental to the pitman opening.

2. The combination with a pitman having an opening, anda crank, of means for adjustably connecting the crank and pitman, said means comprising an assembled wrist pin structure adapted to be bodily entered in the pitman opening, said structure including the operating journal and its bearing and having a non-circular peripheral configuration substantially complemental to the pitman opening, said journal being circular in cross section.

3. The combination with a pitman having an opening, and a crank, of means for detachably connecting the crank and pitman, said means comprising a wrist pin structure insertible within the pitman opening, said structure having a non-circular peripheral configuration substantially complemental to the pitman opening, said pitman opening being flared toward its rear. I

4. The combination with a pitman having an opening, and a crank, of means for detachably connecting the crank and pitman, said means comprising a wrist pin structure insertible within the pitman opening, said structure having a non-circular peripheral configuration substantially complemental to the pitman opening-and a latch device for detachably connecting the pitman and wrist pin structure.

5. In combination, a pitman having an opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank, said means comprising an assembled wrist pin structure carried by the crank and having a non-circular peripheral configuration complemental to the pitman opening, said structure including a pair of members having coacting journal faces, and means for detachably connecting one of said members to the pitman, said,

wrist pin structure adapted to be bodily entered in the pitman opening.

6. In combination, a pitman having an opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank, said means comprising a wrist pin structure carried by the crank and having a non-circular pe ripheral configuration complemental to the pitman opening, said structure including a pair of members having coacting journal faces, and means for detachably connecting one of said members to the pitman, said pitman opening being fiared toward its rear.

7. In combination, a pitman having an opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank, said means comprising a wrist pin structure carried by the crank and having a non-circular pe ripheral configurat on complemental to the pitman opening,sa1d' structure including a Y engage said member."

opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank, said means comprising a wrist pin carried by the crank,

a frusto-conical member secured to the wrist ,pin, a complemental member on the frustoconical member and forming a. journal therewith, and means for detachably connecting said latter member to the pitman, the con nection retaining the member against movements relative to the pitman.

9. In combination, a pitman having an opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank, said means comprising a wrist pin carried by the crank, a frusto-conical member secured to the wrist pin, a complemental member on the frustoconical member and forming a journal therewith, and means for .detachably connecting said latter member to the pitman, the connection retaining the member against movements relative to the pitman, said latter member and the pitman having non-circular cooperating complemental faces.

'10. In combination, a pitman having an opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank, said means comprising a wrist pin carried by the crank, a frusto-conical member secured to the wrist pin, a complemental member on the frustoconical member forming a journal therewith, and means for detachably connecting said latter member to the pitman, the connection retaining the member against movements relative to the pitman,- said means including a latch device carried by the pitman and coacting with said member, whereby the pitman may be disengaged without disturbing the normal position of said member.

11. In combination, a pitman having an opening,- a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank, said means comprising a wrist pin carried by the crank, a frusto-c'o'nical member secured to the wrist pin, a complemental member on the-frustoconical member and forming a journal therewith, and means for detachably connecting said latter member to the pitman, the connection retaining the, member against movements relative to the pitman, said latter member and the pitman having non-circular cooperating complemental faces, and a latch device carried by the pitman and adaptedto 12. In combination, opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the crank and pitman, said means comprising a wrist pin and a plurality of members having complemental faces coacta pitman having an ing with each other and with the pitman opening to provide a unitary wrist pin structure with one of the members thereof operating as a pitman member when the pitman-is in position, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and said member.

13.. In combination, a-pitman having an opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank, said means comprising a wrist pin, a pair 'of concentric members carried thereby and having complemental faces coacting with each other, .the periphery of the outer member being com plemental to the pitman opening, the coacting faces of the members extending on lines such that the inner member will act to position the outer member against axial move ment, and a latch device for detachably connecting the outer member and the pitman.

14. In combination, a pitman having an opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank, said means comprising a wrist pin, a pair of concentric members carried thereby and having complemental faces coacting with each other, the periphery of the outer member being complemental to the pitman opening, the coacting faces of the members extending on lines such that the inner member will act to position the outer member against axial movement, and a latch device for detachably connecting the outer member and the pitman, the periphery of theouter member being inclined inwardly toward the front of the pitman.

15. In combination, a pitman having an opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank, said means comprising a wrist pin, a pair of concentric members carried thereby and having complemental faces coacting with each other, the periphery of the outer member being complemental to the pitman opening, the coacting faces of the members extendingon lines such that the inner member will act to position the outer member against axial movement, and a latch device for detachably connecting the outer member and the pitman, said outer member having a pyramidal peripheral configuration with the base at the rear of the pitman.

' 16. In .combination,*a pitman having an opening, a crank, and means for detachably connecting the pitman and crank comprising a wrist pin structure including a ournal and having a peripheral configuration com-.

plemental to the pitman opening, "a latch device for detachably connecting the pitman structure and the pitman, and a hand grip carried by the pitman, said latch device and grip 'forming manipulating devices for moving the pitman laterally during the disengaging operation.

17. The combination with a pitman having an opening, and a crank, of means for detachably connecting the crank and pitman, said means comprising a wrist pin structure insertible within the pitman opening said structure having a non-circular pe'rlpheral configuration substantially complemental to the pitman opening, said pitman carrying a roller to form'a support ing an opening, and a crank, of means for detachably connecting the crank and pitman, said means comprising a wrist pin structure insertible within the pitman open ing, said structure having a non-circular peripheral configuration substantlally complemental to the pitman opening, said structure including a journal, circular in cross section, said pitman having an oil reservoir having a port extending into the wrist pin structure to the journal.

19. The combination with a pitman having a head or casing with an opening therein, of an assembled wrist pin structure adapted to vbe bodily entered in the opening and including a bearing member having a non-circular outer surface configuration approximately complemental with the opening, and an operating journal.

'20. Thecombination with a pitman having a head or casing with an opening therein, of an assembled wrist pin structure adapted to be bodily entered in the opening and including a bearing member having a non-circular outer surface configuration approximately complemental' with the pin, and an operating journal, said pitman and wrist pin structure having coacting locking means.

21. In combination, a wrist pin structure having a tapered non-circular periphery, and a pitman seated thereon and having an opening substantially complemental to said periphery.

22. In combination, a wrist pin structure having a tapered non-circular periphery, a pitman seated thereon and having an opening substantially complemental to said periphery, and locking means detachably connecting the pitman and wrist pin structure.

23. In combination, a wrist pin structure having a tapered non-circular periphery,

- and a pitman seated thereon and having an bearing and having a peripheral configuration to fit the opening, said structure embodying a unit assemblage, and mechanism for detachably securing the pitman and unit in operative relation, said mechanism being movable to release the pitman by such swinging movement without affecting the assemblage.

25. The combination with a pitman having an opening and mounted to swing in the direction'of length of the opening, and a crank, of means for detachably connecting the crank and pitman, said means c0mprising a structure carrying the journal and its bearing and having a peripheral configuration to fit the opening, said structure embodying a unit assemblage, and mechanism for detachably securing the pitman and unit in operative relation, said mechanism being movable to release the pitman by such 20 EDGAR E. GREVE.

Witnesses:

S. C. REED, SAMUEL E. SWARTZ. 

